Sugar-cane mill.



PATETED MAY 8, 1986.

M. R. SPELMANi SUGAR UANE MILL.

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No. 820,074. PATB RTBD MAY 8, 1906. M R. srmmm SUGAR cam: MIL Li APLGATIOR FILE P53. 4, 1365.

6 8HEET$-SHEET 3K f/VPENTOR Attorney.

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UNITED: STATES PAtrEsT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I-atem-ea may 8,1906.

Applicatlon filed February 4,1905. Serial in. 244,200.

To a, when 1! 1mm nmmcrn:

Be it known that I, lllARK R. SPELMAN, a

citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of the borough of Manhattan, New Yorkcity, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sugar-(Jane Mills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for extracting saccharine matter from sugar-cane; and the invention consists in an improved sugar-cane mill hereinafter described and in certain novel combinations of parts embodied in the improved mill, as set forth in the claims hereto appended.

The ob'ects of the present invention are to rovide or extracting saccharine matter om sugarcane h a continuous process of roller-pressing an diffusion combined by means of automatic machinery; to render the cruslnng-rolls more effective than those heretofore in use, with special reference to the efiect the aforesaid process.

ready escape of the juice from the lower roll; to provide for taki'n the cane as flattened hy the crushing-rolls and cutting the same into chips with ends at right angles to the length 0'? the cane, so as to fully expose the cellular tissue; to provide for positivelv immersing the chips in an effective manner hy conve ers having flights which first carry the 0 'ps down into the diffusion-well and permit them there to expand and fill themselves with water and then elevate them for lurther treatment; to provide for feeding the chips in a positive manner between re-pressing rolls, to which they are carried by said conveyors; to collect the juice expressed by the crushing-rolls and by the several sets of re-pressing rolls and to finally discharge the same through a juice-trough common to all; to return the juice from succeeding re-pressing rolls to preceding diffusion-wells for cone-en: tration within the mill, and to provide for imparting. motion to the several moving parts-in the most effective and economical manner.

Six sheets of drawings accompany this specification aspart thereof.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view olth" improved sugar-cane mill; and Fig. 2 land?- agrammatic plan view of it's catch-basins, juice-troughs, and diffusion-wells, illustratmg the operation of the mill in carrying into Figs. 3 and 4 are res actively a' side elevation and a top view 0 the improved mill as a whole, Fig. 3

ate conveyor and canc chip feeder.

en argcd from Fig. 13.

showing also the msin and supplemental motors and Fig. 4 omitting 1; ese and other parts. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the mill,

on a larger scale. Fig. fi is an elevation of a.

portion of the gearin side of the mill with:

arts broken awav. ig. 7 is a hagrnentary ongitudinal section on the-scale of Figs. 5 and 6, showin the crushing-rolls and cutting apparatus. ig. 8 represents a section through one of the disks or the rotary cutter enlarged from Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is 3. pers ective vie-wolone of the knives detached. g; 10' is a he cntary to View of the lower crushing-rol cutter-tab e, and rotary cutter on the samescale as Figs. 5-? Fig. 11 is a. detail view of the crushing-rolls. and. their shats, showing the upper roll and its shaft in elevation and the lower roll and its shaft in longitudinsl section. Fig. 12 is a. like detail view of one pair of the re-pressing rolls and their shafts. Fi 13.is a frgpmenta lon itudinal section is rough one o? the d5 fusionwells and the succeeding intermedi- Fig. 13" re resents a cross-section of the feedtable manta top view of the cane-chip feeder projccted om Fi 13. of a portion 0F one of the intermediate conveyers, and Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one of the conveyor-flights. Like reference characters refer to like parts in all the figures.

in carrying into effect the aforesaid proc .ess by the improved mill as shown in Figs. 1

and 2, the sugar-cane, fed lengthwise to the mill by known or improved means, is acted on bv a pair of crushing-rolls A and A, by whic the cane is flattened and reduc to from forty to fifty per cent. of its weigh and volume in; the expression of fifty to sixty per cent. of the iuicc." The flattened cane is by the same means fed endwise upon it cuttertable B and is there reduced to chips in the form of short pieces preferably from three-sights of an inch to an inch in length, by means of a rotary cut-terB, cutting the case at right angles to its length and exposin' the cellular tissue of the case at both ends 0 etch chi In th s, condit'fon the cane falls into a illusion-turnip, in which it is immersed in a vs We! bi; a conveyer a w lch permits t 0 e111 stoexand and fill themselves with the waterl' Fig. 15 is a detail view Fig. 14 is a frsgl the nfdhits; t at four re-pre the mechanical feeder b of the first pair of repressing rolls 1 and 1, between which the chips are dpositively fed by said feeder, so as to preclu e any interruption in the rocess. The re-pressed cane chips fall from t e rolls last named, 1 and 1, into a second diffusionwell C, where they are again immersed by the flights of a conveyer a, and after again absorbing water within said well are reelevated to the feeder b of a second pair of repressing rolls 2 and 2'. From this second pair of re-pressing rolls 2 and 2 the chips fall into a thirddifi'usion-well C, in which they are immersed by the flights of a third conveyer a, and after again absorbing water are re'elevated and delivered to another feeder b, by which they are fed between a third pair of -re-pressing rolls 3 and 3, from which the cane chips. fall into a fourth diffusion-well C, in which they are immersed by the flights of a conveyer a and thence relevated and delivered to the feeder b of a fourth air of repressin rolls 4 and 4, from whic they are droppe into the hopper D of a be asse-conve er D, by which t ey are carrie to a suitab e drier preliminary to their, transfer td-furnaces for use as fuel.

The juice expressed by the crusher A A and by the respective pairs of 're-pressing rolls 1 1", 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4f is; caught by catch-basins c; c, c, c,-and e (Compare Figs. 1 and 2 .)j The first and second catchbasins c and c* discharge direct, as shown in Fig. 2, into a main 'uice-trough d, The third catch-basin 0 disc rges, by we. of a connecting-trou h 5 at each side of t e mill, into the first di usion-well C, the connectingtrougrhs being so extendedas to discharge into ont si e of the well at points between its ends, so that the enterin juice shall be efiectively' distributed and fa l directly'upon the descending chi s. The fourth catch-basin c discharges in ike manner, by way of connectihg-trou he 6, into the second diffusionwell (P, and t e fifth catch-basin c dischargesin like manner, by way of connecting-troughs 7, into the third diffusion-well C. The last diffusion-well C is supplied with water (hot or cold) in measured uantities, and water may be introduced in li e manner into one or to supplement the supply of juice flowin into them, only so much water being intro need as may be necessary to complete the washing out of the saccharine matter in the series of diffusion-wells.

. ltis estimated, as the result of my experii asing operations after the mary crushing operation and four immersionskof the can "i'chips in the'di'flusionwells will bethc mos that will be requir d forthe coin lete extraction of the sacchari e matter. T e number of operations may,

however, be increased ordim nishedwithout departing from the invention.

It will be seen that the improved sugarcane 'mill after crushing the cane and extracting from fifty to sixty per cent. of its juice by the crushin -rolls A and A exposes the cellular tissue 0 the flattened cane by the cutter and cutter-table B and B, com els the absorbing of water in successive di usion-wells C to C by a positive immersion of the canechips therein by means of the conveyers a to a, and squeezes the juice out by succeeding sets of re-pressing rolls 1 and lto 4 and 4,so as 'to thoroughly wash out the sucrose or sweet juice from the cellular tissue of the cane in one and the same mill of limited extent.

The construction and operation of the respective parts of the apparatus above briefly referred to and their accessories will now be more particularly described,- with reference to Figs. 3 to 16, inclusive, ofthe drawings.

The two crushing-tolls A and A are of steel and are mounted one above the other and designed and adapted totake the place of the three-roll crushers generally used. The rolls A and Ain common are fluted lon itudinall with oval or half round concave utes 8, as s own inF-ig. 7, and the lower roll-A- is provided, in addition, with V-shaped grooves 9, Figs. 7, l0, and 11, at ri lit angles to the fluting. The longitudinal utes 8 serve in a highly-effective manner to crush and flatten the cane without shreddingor disintegrating it and for feeding the cane endwise in a oertive manner u on and over t e feed-tab e to he circumferential V sha ed the cutter. grooves 9 ermit the'juiceto' escape from etween the ongitudirial flutes oi the lower roll A in the most direct mariner so as to flow downward into the subjacent catch-basin c. The rolls are preferabl made hollow ,or internally recessed, as s own in Fig. 11, and are shrunk oi ke ed fast 'on shafts 16 and 10, respectively, th shaft l0" of the lower roll A" being the driving-shaft. t

The rotarywutter B is composed of a sufficient number of circular steel plates 1 8 and 10, erforated at their centers cutter-sha in section by Fig. 8, is recessed at its'periphery to carry one or more insertible teeth or knives f, one of whichis shown detached at Fig. 9. As shown in this figure and in Fig. 8 the inner ends 17 of the knives f are of the full thickriess the late 11 and are connected by. rectangular s anks 18 of half thickness with their protruding outen-ends 19. There are prefera ly two knives f to each pl to, with their shanks 18 flush with opposi 0 sides, so that together the two knives make cuts as l Fi s.

for t e t 12 and keyed fast theretp .the plates being held firmly together by a ph'ir of wfiie as th pia of each knife is so as to form twe cutirgrrg that can bIQught into use sricc the knives 9i :3

rxr in any other f, Fig-8, 50

tel rrla ses l1 7 so as to render practicable ssntiriiipur. cutter B 15 so regulatii that cut the name into slugs irarn r right angles to lengthwise A, so as to ceases g,

The cutter straight-edge b ing-roll A ing.

roll A, 21ml sail; to 36% as & Sara er fur said lower LQlL rear edge 20 of str aighi-erl gs:

escape of the knives f 0f the operatian gagi; least, 13 supp whiclimn pregierly cane chips passirig pand beneath the sarfaeteiof the water.

Each difiueion-wii with suitable berrings for the shaft 23 (if the lower drum 24 a], a3, a, or cliziedcliutes 2 erimerar and are not matieriaily rm;

y sushi-recesses. sucaessive cutter-plates, are sta ranged in spiral eries, as I an inch t0 one inch in length,

between iullyrxpvse the an ing tissue at both endfi if tfiiiil siip.

Fig. 8, concentrie wi shaft 12, are also formalin the sides cutter-plates ll'tcr them and holding the kniresf rigidly in p are.

of the crushing-rails of the bar being set as near as possible net is fiouch the flut- Said Tent shaped pm ectians Q the circum rreriisiai gro the extremities of the, kilireg cutterB as indicatasi iri A'pair of ed 1e guarii errriiend's ef the cutter-rabls rear edge 201ml unclr Size aritiar (if a interaating is is think.

The mater iihiifiliif l,-

as EEG-WI]. Fig,

asivelv by trans]; rich plaza.

'1 i i" 1 1 lmwes j in Y the mrlerrtat r sirirs of the well, E$ijiflfl if trmrgh-terniinals 31?, leading in L in tliefrontwalifli the irmighms. siibw'n iii Fig. 2 and Fig. 13, cnrinert witii a pair a? mice-troughs 5, (i,- or T, leading rixcept in the case 53f fourth (iii "e ii G, in which tin: triir a I iunctinnless, lint rrrbi in- Jizrd, 1-10 that all the arr-lismg Err made of inner 0f the auttarglaiv-r approved 7%;

The knives 1, carried iry (me arrri the same pattern. The liagaaseer D i5 c-nnvenientiy and preferably +33% :2 a? the graitarii 31% shown. Em:

3f fii iritrineii FLIZQ :1, (13, a and a! if the cans? in Figs. 13, 15, 3.31 1 lfi timi is 0 a rmnpnsed of five (mere 01' less) ariiiicl QfidlfihS shains 28, WlthbOliZflfntfil 'fiig 29, preferably 0i hard 3335 m arii) the suiting strain rreari as The speed of the jwili r r iglitiis of with ends; a? length fifth? cane the grfasliirrg-reiis and rasr-soritaim Retll ilie cutter- 5f the 2am jing the tubie B is composed of a a! (if steel ejrtending the len 'th A and A, the front 93 the inwer crus i- 1 table B cane tirersirnm except rotary cut? grid Q 132a? E55" riiiirlretrhrough as they exfsrms r is praride'd 0f the intermg r firth. n-

glirsam not abserbri fry WfiOd, arranged Hi staggered sections, as shown in Fig, 15, arui the eonvoyer is carried around Gnu u? said; iowrr drumr Z4 and around a like eifllm 2-1Zwl1ich may be, and preferably is, 0? less diameter, arranged at: a snffi' ient height I iliiiliii9i above the Weir tire it 23 a? tin upper drum 24- being rfiiinertad i;- s :vri'mlreet-rluriiz gearing 30 with the apps: sllait .51 0f the succeeding set, of rr-prrssing TfillS 1 1; 2 The periphery of drums immarsed to a considerable exthin the diiiusion-wll. and

igrni at least W1 thelmitmr; 32 with, as Shawn in Fig. 13, so that the criir chipi tilrri rl (lawn into the well by the flights 2! are compelled t0 follow the periphery Q? the drum and pass beneath the same radars thus kept beneath the surface of the rrsriier long enough to expand and become fail saturated. In so submergingr the c ane r iripfi {he mnvryers a, a, a, and at also carry 7 ginwnwm-ri the in ice from succeeding re-pressri srations receivrad through said juicerrr ns. and 7 and wid Waugh-terminals 3-7, so that the Entering juirze'is tiiaruughiy rnizierl with the liquid wiiiiin irhe well and iariaptecl to be reabsarlreri To provide for thereturn i the difiusiQn-weli of the liquid 29 and the cane 'the iattler, the

:earried u by tire flights 7 7 rrr gr edges 0? the fiigzhia .29 rcwided with ri: tahs h as shfiwn 1r; Fig; 3 and Fig. 16., so i as to form rgassriges fqr't-iie liquid beneath iiiergm eyer imrrzedi tgly above the fienr of the delivery-chute- 26. The upper end of sairi deliverychute 26 is supported by a feeder-chute 33 which conveniently carries tiraeari gs fii iahe upper COIXVGYBIrShBift 23 and eeririrrcfir jhile cane chips to the frQer l '5, 5 er 5 f the. succeeding pair of l'fi-PTBS? ing reiis, as siiwn in Fig. 13. feeders b, F, EEarid b is of the 'i'epreserijted 'in lr gs. i3 andjl (Whifihflli that is say ranch-Redo: is cirire i ay chain and s grfir est-wheel 691mm 3% iii? said r'r gp r slrisfifil 9f the adjacent yair 3i 5 and 26 lead to and frem the r-prwlrigriisrnd comprises a ham-50m Each sf these construetian (See- Fig, 3;; 7 each (if the lnwrr rrmvey'er 0f the well is mmcentrir therea IEO and 13.

shaft 35, parallel with the rolls and octagonal in cross-section, a series of eight eccentr cs 36, carried by said shaft and set on eighths, thrust connections of said eccentrics, sliding feeder-sections 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,. 44, and 45, rectangular in cross-section and preferably of hard wood, and a horizontal fecd-table 46, upon which said feeder-sections reciprocate side by side and which is fixedly supported immediately behind the lower re-pressing roll 1, 2, 3, or 4 and so as to project as close as practicable to its periphery and top. Owing to said arrangement of said eccentrics 36, four of the respective feeder-sections (38 to 41, for example) move forward in succession, while the other four (42 to 45, for example) are receding in like manner, as illustrated by the arrows thereon in Fig. 14. The feed is thus rendered as nearly as practicable continuous and is ada ted to e ualize and distribute the strain. T e cane c ips are at the same time fed between the re-pressing rolls in a positive manner, so as to' preclude clogging.

The upper surface of the feed-table 46 is rovided with grooves 46, (represented in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14,) extending in the direction of the feed to the delivery edge of the feed-table and increasing in width and depth, either or both, for increasing capacity toward that edge to discharge upon the lower re-pressing roll any juice that may escape from the cane chips under the pressure of the feeder-sections 38 to 45. i

The re-pressing rolls 1 1, 2 2, 3 3', and 4 4 are of the construction shown in Figs. 12

They are preferabl r able mixture of cast-iron an are mounted on steel shafts 31 and 31, parallel to each other and to the crushing-rolls A and A. Like the latter, these reressing rolls are set one above the other and t e lower shafts 31 are drivingshafts, as hereinafter set forth. Each of the rolls is provided with shallow or light circumferential grooves 47, six to the inch in practice, as reprerscnted in Fig. 12. A pair of disks 48 and/l9 (represented in Fig. 12, Fi 13, and Fig. 14,) attached tothe endsof eac 1 lower roll 1, 2, 3, or 4, bridge the space be tween the rolls of each set at the ends, as shown in Fig. 13.

The catch-basins 0, c c, c, and 0" may be of sheet metal or wood, as may be also the juice-troughs 5, 6, and 7 and the main juicetrough d common to all, and are securely supported within the frame of the mill, as sulliciently shownin Fig. 3. The first and second catch-basins c and 0 have their bottoms 50 inclined so as to drain in one and the samc'direction toward the main juice-trough d and are directly connected therewith b laterally-projccting outlets 51 at that side of the mill, connected with said main juicetrough by short lengthsof i rough 52 and 53, as shown in Fig. 2. The third, fourth, and

37, carriedby the straps made of a suitfifth catch-basins'c, c, and c have bottoms 54 inclined downwardly in both directions from the middle, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the intermediate jui troughs 5, 6, and 7 are coupled to a pair of laterally-projecting outlets 55 on eac 1 pan.

The conveyor D for discharging the bagasse-hopper I) may be similar in construction to the intermediate conveyers a a a and a or of any suitable form.

To support in a new and effective way all the parts of the improved sugar-cane mill without the aid of the enormously heavy castings which have heretofore distinguished such structures, a solid and level concrete foundation E (indicated in Fig.3) is first constructed, and what is practically a single superposed frame F, of structural steel, is erected thereon. The construction of this frame is represented in Figs. 3, 5, and 6. It is composed. of channel, I, and angle bars and lain plates, jointed, riveted, and connected ongitudinally and transversely, so as to form one solidly-connected bearing for the suerposed movable and immovable Wei hts. Tmmediately above the foundation E t ere are three bedplates '5, i and i of such construction arranged longitudinall arallel with each other. On two of these bed i and i perpendicular columns 7', 7', 7' 7, and 7, of structural steel, are erected and rigidly supported at each side of the frame F. These 00 umns j, j, j, j, and each other In line and 0t braced. prise two double lines of horizontal beams k. and Ir at: each side of the mill. Said columns j to 7' support the journal bearings of the shafts 1U 10' and 31 31 of the crushing-rolls A A and the re-pressing rolls 1 1, 2 2', 3 3, and 4 4, substantially line with said beams 10 and k as illustrated in Fig. 14, where the journal-box 56 of one of the upper re-pressing rolls is shown'in plan view. As shown in this figure, each of said j ournal-boxes 56 is held in place against displacement lengthwise 0f the mill by vertical angle-bars forming parts of said columns 'to 1' and displacement lengthwise of the roils is revented by flanges l and m on the ends 0 each journal-box. (See also Figs. S and 6.) The shaft 12 of the rotary cutter B is supported by a pair of pillowblocks 57, mounted on the lowermost, 7c, of said longitudinal beams, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6, and the cutter-table B is supported beneath by a pair of transverse beams n n and a supplemental angle beam a as shown in Fig. 7, the ends of said beams resting upon said lowermost longitudinal beams k and forming part of an ample system of transverse beams t ing the sides of the frame F together. The diffusion wells (J-,0,

C and C are supported in a lowerplane b transverse channel-beams 0, bridging sh l bed-platcs i and 11" beneath the frame 'Fpg plates are onnected with erwise and properly, The longitudinal connections come A suitable main motor G, Fig. 3, is eofinected minute and the matie'ereeuee6 te three re e- V heath by transverse I-beams 32, Fig. i3 Pil low-blocks 58, Fig. 13, for the feeder shfi l moving parts share urged driven in like manner by sgreekee ehein germ 34. {Gempere Figs. 3end eend'Fig;

seems shewn in F213. The upper shafts 23 as the interrn iste eenveyers a, e, a, and "e" have their bee These feeder-chutes 33 are supported he- 35 are mounted on pairs of trensvers efehena net-hers g; Fi 6, between said lower leggitudinal beams and the feed-tehles 33ers eupiaerted beneath by channel-seems r end sag e-hers r, as shown Motien is transmitted j;

illustrated by Figs: 3, e, Sfend E, see.

by a frietiemolutch H te e lengitndinel main 'driring-sheft I, made in coupled together endwise, es shown in Fig. 6. A thrust-box 59 and sufieiently-nemerous supplemental housing! 69 for the journals of sald main driving -shsft I EIE IfiQlIIitfiCi on the third, '5, of said bed-plates of structural steel, and the shaft I carries et fixed paints five worms 61, running in oil. it These worms 61 mesh as shown in 6, with large werenwheels 62, fast en the shaft 10 of the lower" roll of the crusher A A and on the shaft 31 of the lower roll of each pair 0f repressing rolls 1 1, 2 2, 3 3', and 4 4" endseid lower. shafts I0 and 31" areeonneeted with the upper shafts 10 end 31 by shrouded spnreering 63 in customary manner. Pillow-b oeks 64, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, of ample strength erected upon said'third bedlate 11 serve to support the outer ends 0% e roli shafts 16 and 3E, that carry said her rarer-wheels 62. The requisite high speed ofthe rotary cutter B is obtained by a supplemental electric metor G, ereeted upon the top of the mill, as sheen i2 Fig. The shaft 65 of this meter, is eennerded by belt-gearing 66 withthe eat ter-eheft 12, as shown in that figure" The 'upper shafts 23 of the intermediate eeeve'e ere a, 05?, a, and 11- are driven es elree mentioned, by sprocket chair; geering fierr; the upper shafts 31 at there r reiie 11 1, 2 2", 3 3, and 4 4. The shaft 13.) he eonve erl) for disehergieg the hegessehop er may be driven by the main meter G or y any epproyedflmeeee A horizontal zstee'ei engine is Ereferredes the ream motor the same to e rgni erdinsrily at eighty resolutions per" lutiens per mineteet theiruslfingi-rells A A and repressing hills 1 X22 2, 3 31111164 4; W'ith rolls thirtysfx inches irr diameter-this gives a peripheral travel '65 28??? feet per minute. The reteef trevel is uniform att he crusher A P and rte-pressing rolls 1 1 to 4 4 V e'xi the feeder-chutes aseheve describe with reference to Fig 13; e

' ieier tissue at beth ends of the several feeders l 5 5 sedge 'sfreeded The proper relative of the intermediate eonveyers e (1?, e and a and eerie-chip feeders b, 5 lf, end 15 is determined by sprocket wheels ef epproprrete sizes in the described enter geermg emd 34. The indepeeeer gutter B has a reletir that may 7 be regulated es reqrrirer er zing the speed sf thesup lementai eiee .rie meter G wrthout distiirliing the speed regulation of the hedv of the nnll.

' The meehenieel e? the rations de vices througheet the r it me he versed at will. The flutes greeves 9 of the er'iishing-rolle A and A be increased or reduced in number and size. The number ef cutter-plates 11 and the number of knivesf in each plate of the eutter B may vary. The means for adjustin r the knivesf outward tn take up weer may he of any appreved kind. The cutter=tebie B may bej n or mere parts, se es in render the seregergreeetieee 9 and the straight-edge 26 independently ed justahle. The re-pressing rolls 1 I, 2 2'. 3 3, and 4 4 me be of steel or other seitehle metal, if Pre erred, and the sieeend rm 'rrrher The hegesse-ho" per D and its appurterrm r es may heel any newn or impreved eenstraetime. Structural iron may take the place of striaeturel' steel. The motion-transmitting meeh gtniem admits of immateriel changes, and ether like modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

' Having thus described seid'improvement, i'elsrirn as my invention and desire is eetent nnd erthis speeifieetion-- I. A sugar-cane mill having, in combinetion, erush1ngrolls adept-ed tn em sh and flatten the cane and to express a portion of its juiee, e cutter-table arranged to receive 011 it the flattened cane as dissherged by said crushing-rolls, a cutter eueelingwith said outter tehle and adapted therewith te reduce the length of the cage se in the eelii ef'eenveyers wrist-rusted end arranged to pesrtrrely rrereerse the same chips in fiatsion-welis-end to elevate the saturated end expended el'rips therefrom, mechanic-s 1 feedershen'ng feed=tehlee arranged te reek, upen there seturated cane ships es and is varied only as the engine is differently iuiee, a cutter-table arranged te receire upon of their errennlferentiel greeves 47 they rerr flattened cane te in form ef 'shert pieces having eeds at right angles to tene'd eenitien within the respective allie errriree retery eheiged try eenveyers, a series set 13? Z re giess'fiii rells each of wlueh 1s arranged te r it the flattened cane as discharged by said crushing-rolls, a cutter coactingwith said cutter-table and adapted therewith to reduce the flattened cane to chips, a series of diffusionwells, a series of conveyers constructed and arranged to positively immerse such cane chips in flattened condition within the re spective diffusion-wells and to elevate the saturated and expanded chips therefrom, mechanical feeders having feed-tables arranged to receive upon them the cane chips as discharged by said conveyers, a series of sets of re-pressing rolls, each of which is arranged to be fed by one of said feeders, catch-basins beneath each set of rolls, juicetroughs arranged to conduct the juice from all except the first two catch-basins into preceding diifusion-wells, a main juice-trough common to all, and juice-troughs directl connecting the first two catch-basins wit 1 said main juice-trough.

3. A sugar-cane mill having, in combination, a set of crushing-rolls adapted to crush and flatten the cane and to express a portion of its juice, means for reducing the flattened cane to chips in the form of short pieces having ends at right angles to the length. of the cane, a series of diffusion-wells, a series of conveyers constructed. and arranged to positively immerse such cane chips in flattened condition within the respective difl'usionwells and to elevate the saturated and expanded chips therefrom, mechanical feeders arranged to act upon such cane chips as discharged by said conveyers, four sets of repressing rolls parallel with said crushingrolls and each set arranged to be fed by one of said feeders, catch-basins beneath the several sets of rolls, a main nice-trough common to all, juice-troughs (iirectly connecting the catch basins of said crushing-rolls and the first set of re-pressing rolls with said main juice-trough, uice-troughs connecting the res ective ends of the third catch-basin with t ic iirst diflusiomwell, j nice-troughs connecting the respective ends of the fourth catchbasin with the second diffusion-well, and juice-troughs connecting the respective ends of the fifth catch-basin with the third diffusion-well.

4. In a sugar-cane mill, a crusher comosed of two rolls placed one above the other, oth of them fluted longitudinally, and the lower roll having V-shaped grooves cut circumi'erentially.

5. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with a crusher composed of two crushingrolls placed one above the other, and the lower roll provided with circumferential V- sha ed grooves, ofa cutter-table constructed witi V-shaped projections arranged to project into said V-shaped groovcs of the lower roll and to act as scrapers.

6. in a sugar-cane mill, the combination with crushing-rolls adapted to flatten the cane and express a portion of its juice, of a 'cutter-table arranged to receive the flattened cane'from said-rolls, a cutter interacting with said cutter-table and adapted to reduce the flattened cane to chips in the form of short ieces having ends at right angles to the ength of the cane so as to expose the cellular tissue at both ends of each chip, re-pressing rolls parallel with said crushing-rolls, diffusion-wells supplied with liquid and arranged to receive the cane chips as they come from said cutter and the successive sets of said repressing rolls, and means for ositively immersing such chips Within t e respective wells so as to permit them to expand beneath the surface of the liquid and thus becomefully saturated preliminary to the succeeding repress ng operation.

7. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with a crusher adapted to flatten the cane and express a portion of its juice, and means for reducing the flattened cane to chips in the form of short pieces having ends at right angles to the length of the cane, of a diflusionwell supplied with liquid and arranged to receive such chips in flattened condition, and a conveyer comprising a horizontal drum immersed at bottom within said diffusion-well and sprocket-chains carrying flights of such dimensions as to fit the space between said drum and the bottom of the well, whereby the chips are positively immersed within said well and permitted to ex and beneath the level of the liquid within t 1e well.

8. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with a crusher adapted to flatten the cane and express a ortion of its juice, means for reducing the attened cane to chips in the form of short pieces having ends at ri ht angles to the length of the cane, and a di usionwell arranged to receive the cane chips in flattened condition and provided with a partially-immersed horizontal drum, of a conveyer comprising sprocket-chains parallel with each other running around said drum, and provided with flights of proper dimensions arranged in staggered sections, whereby the cane chips are positively immersed within the well and are elevated therefrom, and a forwardly-extending chute interacting with said flights for elevating the cane chips.

9. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with a crusher adapted to flatten the cane and express a portion of its juice, means for reducing the flattened cane to chips, and a diil'usion-well arranged to receive the cane chips in flattened condition and provided with a partially-in'unersed horizontal drum, of a conveyor comprising sprocket -chains parallel with each other running around said drum and provided with flights of proper dimensions carried by said sprocket-chains and having notches in their outer edges, and an upwardly extending chute interacting with said flights for the elevation of the cane spcetive feeder-sections.

chips and the return of the non-absorbed liquid to the diffusion-well.

10. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with means for crushing the cane and thereby neath the s ame, and means for successively advancing said feeder-sections so that the thrust of each feeder-section pushes the cane chipsin contact with its inner end bemoan the succeeding set of re-pressing rolls,

11. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with means for crushing the cane and thereby flattening it and ,expressin a o'rtien of its juice, means .for reducing t e attcncd cans to chips, means for saturating the flattened chips, and re-prcssing' mile for completing the expression of the juice, of a cane-chip feeder composed of a series of sections of hardwood or other suitable material, a table beneath the same, and means for successively advancing said feeder-sections including a seriespf eccentrics behind the respective sections.

12. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with means for crushin the cane and thereby flattening the same and toned chips, and tar-pressing rolls fhr completing the expression of the juice, of a cane-chip feeder composed of a series of sections of hard wood or other suitable material, a table beneath the same, a series of eccentrics behind the respective feeder-sections, a shaft octaghnal in cross-section common to said eccentrics, upon which the same are arranged on ei hths, and means for transmittin motion om the respective eccentrics to the re- 13, In a sugar-cane mall, the combination means for crushingl the cane and thereby flattening the same an expressing a portion ofv its juice, means for reducing the flattened cane to chips, means for saturating the fiattenedchips, and re-pressing rolls for complet ing the expression of the juice, of a cane-chip feeder for each set of re-pressing rolls com posed of aseries of feeder-sections, means for rcci meeting said feeder-sect ons and a ta hie encath the feeder-sections liavin its delivery edge close to the periphery of the iower roll and constructed with juice-conducting grooves in its upper surface extending in the direction of the feed to said deliver edge.

14. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination with means for crushing the cane and thereby flattening the same an expressing a portion of its juice, means for reduci expressing a portion of its uice, means for reducing the flattened cane to chips, means for saturatingthe flatof its juice, means for reducing the flattened cane to chips, means for saturating the flattened chips and repressing rolls for completing the expression of the juice, of a cane-chip feeder for each set of re-pressing rolls com posed of a series offeolienscctions, means for reciprocating said feeder-sections and a table beneath the feeder-sections having its delivery edge close to the periphery of the lower roll and constructed with juice-conducting reeves in its upper surface extending in the direction of the feed to'seid delivery edge,

and of increasing capacity as they approach said ed e.

15. 4 n a sugar-cane mill, the combination of means for crushing the cane andfithereby flattening the same and expressing a portion of its juice, means for reducin the flattened cane to ohips,repressing rolls or completing the expressiouofthe 'uice, and means for saturating the flattens chipsin advance of each re-pressing o oration, suchsaturating means com rising ifiusiomwells constructor with troug -terminals leading toopenings in the front walls of the wells and. means for collooting the juice from said rte-pressing rolls including troughs some of which communicate with such trough terniinals.

16. In a sugar-cane mill, the combination of means for crushing the cane and thereby flattening the same and-expressing a portion the flattened cane to chips ,re-pressing rolls or completing the expression of the uice, and means for saturating the flattened chips in advance of each re=prcssing o oration, such saturatin means comprising ifi'usion-wells constructs with trongh-terminals leading to openings in the front walls of the wells, means for collectin the juice from said repressing rolls inclugii (P troughs some of which communicate d ill such trough-terminal5, a partiallyimmersed horizontal drum within each diffusion-well, sprocket chains arallel with each other running around said drum, and flights connecting airs of said chains with each other and a apted to carr the cane chips beneath said drum and to mix with the liquid contents of the well. the juice so intro duced.

1?. A sugar-cane mill having, in combina-'- llO two rolls act on horizontal shafts one above their nd the same horizontal the other and all the lower rolls havi hearings in one plane, and means or driving said rolls in uni izo worms and fast on the shafts of said lower rolls, res-pee tively, and spur-gearing connecting the s afts of each set of rolls.

18. A sugarcane mill having,in combinal tion, a set of crushin rolls and s veral sets of re-pressin rolls, eac set being omposed of two rolls ast on horizontal shafts one above the other and all the lower rolls having,' their hearings in one and the same horizontal plane, means for'driving said rolls in unison comprising an engine and a horizontal shaft common to all and worm-gearing transmitting motion from said longitudinal'shaft to the several sets of rolls, a high-speed cattery arranged between said crushing-rolls and the first set of re-pressing rolls for reducing;' the flattened cane to chips, an independent highspeed motor, and means fortransmitting motion from said independent motor to said cutter.

19. A in ar-cane mill having, in combination, a set 0 crushing-rolls and several sets of re-pressintg rolls each set being composed of two rolls st on horizontal shafts one above the other and all the lower rolls having their hearings in one and the same horizontal plane, means for driving said rolls in unison comprising an engine and a horizontal shaft common to all and worm-gearing transmitting motion from said horizontal shaft to the several sets of rolls, means for reducing to Eggs the flattened eane'as discharged by crushing-rolls, diffusion-wells in a lower between the successive sets of rolls, in-

plane, means for driving said rolls'in unison comprising an engine and a horizontal shaft common to all and worm-gearing transmitting motion from said horizontal shaft to the several sets of rolls, means for reducing to chips the flattened'cane as discharged by said crushing-rolls, means for saturating the cane chips between the successive sets of rolls, mechanical cane-chip feeders for the successive sets of re-pressing rolls,and mech" anism transmitting motion to said feeders from the shafts of the several upper repressing rolls, substantially as hereinbefore specified. 1

MARK R. SPELMAN.

Witnesses:

H. B. Lonorn MURRAY 'SAYER. 

